Health Advocate Seeks Increased Awareness on Antimicrobial Resistance

Gideon Arinze in Enugu

A health advocate and convener of Art for Health Naija, a health advocacy innitiative, Rose-Camile Aneke has called on governments at all levels to invest more in creating awareness about Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).

Aneke made the call yesterday at the Centre for Memories in Enugu State during an art exhibition held as part of activities marking this year’s AMR week and to create awareness about the phenomenon.

In her address, Aneke said that the event became necessary as AMR was fast becoming one of the world’s most urgent public health problems that requires urgent attention.

“AMR occurs when germs develop the ability to defeat the drugs that are designed to kill them,” she said. “AMR has the potential to affect people at any stage of life,”.

Aneke said that it was important to adopt preventive practices, including regular hand washing, avoiding self-medication, adhering to prescribed medications, and getting vaccinated to prevent diseases in the first place.

On his part, Faculty Member Media-EIS Fellowship Program, which supported the event, Leslie Udoh said that the choice of arts exhibition, including microbe related games, paintings and drama became necessary as arts has emerged as a form of expression which helps to immortalise messages, particularly those around health.